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Useful Accounting Tool for Photogs

it's a really neat little tool to calculate the cost of running your photography business. I found it really useful when trying to determine the prices for my wedding packages and thought I would share it with you guys. Have fun.

Re: Useful Accounting Tool for Photogs

Mine is about $2200 minimum per shoot which means if i'm trying to make any meaningful form of money, I should be charging around $6500 per wedding without album. That's quite some ways for me to go. yikes

Re: Useful Accounting Tool for Photogs

Originally Posted by jsbn

That seems to be the way with the ppl around.

$300 for a 2hr ROM shoot is considered to be 'expensive' liaoz.

ok, then dun shoot ROM like me. unless its more than $150 per hour

problems is most ppl think they can make money from charging ppl $1 to $1K per wedding but when your time and effort and your gears and transport add, its just not worth it. So much so that so many freelancers flood the market and it has been the 'norn' for low charges.

To step up and offer an entirely different product to upgrade your services is the way to go man. Most offer superior style to counter the 'cheapo' photog. Some offer beautiful albums and designs, some have a way with words.

We need to educate 2 groups, both the consumer and the service provider.

The consumer needs to understand besides just getting a cameraman to snap snap snap, they can find someone with a heart and soul to capture great moments, nice angles that they can frame up each picture as work of art.

same as the photog, whom can define his/her style with the angles, techniques they use, a signature as every wedding is shot, there is this certain 'air', signature in his/her work. If you want to grow as a photog, its not just snapping, its finding your style and a audience to appreicate your craft. Start charging a decent amount for you to motivate yourself, your craft and your business.

Re: Useful Accounting Tool for Photogs

Unfortunately, when style & art gets overwhelmed by the pressures of pure commercialism, where ppl keeps chirping "cheep-cheep-cheep" and u slowly feel that ppl are just interested in getting their faces there (snapshots) instead of the 'pattern' that they would like their faces to be (art), u can't help but feel a little disheartened and shoot what ppl wants - snapshots.

Occasionally there are ppl who love ur craft, ur art, ur style. The power of ur photos when u pour every inch of inspiration, sweat, blood or pain into it. But these ppl are like diamonds in the rough these days. Most are still after an ulterior motive whilst hiding under the guise of being appreciative towards ur art.... cheep-cheep-cheep

Re: Useful Accounting Tool for Photogs

Originally Posted by jsbn

Unfortunately, when style & art gets overwhelmed by the pressures of pure commercialism, where ppl keeps chirping "cheep-cheep-cheep" and u slowly feel that ppl are just interested in getting their faces there (snapshots) instead of the 'pattern' that they would like their faces to be (art), u can't help but feel a little disheartened and shoot what ppl wants - snapshots.

Occasionally there are ppl who love ur craft, ur art, ur style. The power of ur photos when u pour every inch of inspiration, sweat, blood or pain into it. But these ppl are like diamonds in the rough these days. Most are still after an ulterior motive whilst hiding under the guise of being appreciative towards ur art.... cheep-cheep-cheep

well, i look and try to educate more diamonds i guess, i prefer to shoot diamonds than birds

Re: Useful Accounting Tool for Photogs

Originally Posted by jsbn

Nice to know that.

Now, to harden my heart and stop giving favours...

everyone wants cheap and good but there is point where you want to do good and be rewarded for it.

hobbist, any amount to them is extra money, even you spend 12 to 40 hours on a event job. I have undertood this point. Also i have lost referals a great deal nowdays as i do not charge the same as when i was freelancing. People stop short when they found out they are paying more then their friends, even if the product is better.

i respect and understand this, its my transitional time, over time my demographs will change so i need to change my customer's mindset. Also no freelancer can commit the same time and resources if my clients want to do something extra, like shoot weddings out of town in the middle of the week, source for special albums etc or meet my clients at a nice office instead of macs in the weekday afternoon.